“Yeah, but where?”
She sighs. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell you. For your own protection, it’s probably better if you didn’t know.”
That sounds really suspect. “Annie… you didn’t rat, did you?”
She laughs. “No, of course not. I wouldn’t have anything to really tell the cops, anyway. Dad kept us out of the loop on the big, important things, remember?” She pauses, then, “I’m talking about Dad. I’ll bet he’s pretty pissed about my almost messing up his plans. I don’t want him to take it out on you.”
“Well, they aren’t messed up now. I’m paying his debtandyours. You can come back now.” She doesn’t say anything for a good few seconds. “Annie? Did you hear me?”
“I heard you,” she says softly. “Listen, Izzy, that’s kind of why I decided to call you. You should know that I’m not coming back.”
“What do you mean, you’re not coming back? You have to come back, Annie.”
“As it turns out, no, I don’t,” she says. “I’ve been gone for almost a month now. Don’t you think it’s weird that a man as powerful as our father hasn’t found me yet? He could scour the earth for me now that he’s connected to the Mechnikovs, and yet?—”
“Hey, just because you managed to avoid his men so far doesn’t mean they’re not out there looking for you and you know it.”
“Izzy—”
“Okay, then. Tell me where you are if you think he doesn’t care anymore.”
She goes quiet again, this time for a few seconds longer.
“Annie, you made your point, all right? You stood up to Dad and good for you. You really showed him. Now knock it off and come back home already.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry, Izzy. I just can’t.”
“Why not?” My voice cracks and my eyes start to burn with tears. “You’re my sister. You’re supposed to be here with me. I’m going through this all alone and you don’t even care.”
“Idocare. Izzy, I love you so much?—”
“No you don’t. You’re selfish and petty and you threw me under the fucking bus! You really just left me here to pick up the pieces while you’re out there seeing the world?—”
“It’s not like that. Iz?—”
“I’m trapped here, like I’m under house arrest and…” I stop. Tears are pouring down my cheeks and sobs are starting to erupt from my chest. I wipe my face with the heel of my hand and say, “You know something? Stay wherever the fuck you are. Be free as a bird if you want. You go ahead and live your life. It’s the least you can do after stealing mine.”
I hang up and throw my phone on the bed behind me.
Fuck her. What the hell did she bother calling me for, anyway? I get up and go to the bathroom to splash some water on my face and get myself under control. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot and there are signs of puffiness around the edges.
I never asked for this, dammit. Not any of it. I can’t believe Annie really just abandoned me. Did she even bother to think about me at all until now?
It doesn’t matter. I stand up straight and take a deep breath to shake off the sobs. I’m really on my own, so I'd better start acting like it and carve out my own way out of this mess.
By the timeI had showered and dressed, Anya called asking me out for lunch. I almost said no since Alexei hadn’t gotten back yet, but I figured Anya had been in touch with him since this morning so it was probably fine if I went out with her.
Plus, I was tired of being in that penthouse. I needed some air.
So, now we’re sitting in this restaurant that, unlike the cafe from that first morning we went out, doesn’t have a Russian esthetic. In fact, it’s closer to being a diner than anything else. When we walked in, I must have given Anya a questioning look because she said, “They serve great burgers here.”
After we put in our orders, she asks me, “So, how is week one of married life?”
There’s a lot of ways I can answer this question. The most polite way is just to say fine and move on to another topic. But after that call this morning’s with Annie… I don’t know. I could use an ally. Maybe Anya could be that.
“Can I be frank with you?”
Anya glances around. We’re in a booth in the farthest corner of the restaurant where no other people are. She says, “Hold thatthought.” She spots a passing waiter and flags them down. The young man with shaggy dark hair in his eyes walks over and asks if he can help us. “I need these tables around us to be empty while we’re here, please.”
